Work recently took me to Nashville, Tennessee. Located in Centennial Park, just west of downtown is Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway locomotive number 576. The 576 is a 1942 Alco product, and was one of "The Dixie Line's" J-3 class of 4-8-4 locomotives. The railroad had a couple of classes of dual-service 4-8-4s which the railroad called "Dixie" types. The ones built during World War II, like the 576 did not have the skirting of the pre-war engines, but did originally have a cone shaped smokebox front that covered the entire front, as well as a Commonwealth cast pilot with swing coupler, like Union Pacific 844. These locomotives were very successful for the railroad, but the N.C.&St.L. was an early adopter of the diesel, making the full switch by 1952, four years before its parent the L&N finally dropped the fires.
The 576 has been in Centennial park since 1952, and only recently received a covered shelter. The condition of the locomotive is fair, at best. Still, it is a very neat looking locomotive, with clean lines. There have been several attempts to "rescue" the 576 from the park and restore her to operation. The most recent attempt was announced several years ago. I haven't heard anything of recent, and 576 sits as she has for nearly sixty years.
Her clean lines are appealing. Every time I see her I think of David P Morgan and his fondness for Southern based railroads, and how much he had a taste and keen sensibility for then vanishing history..sometimes I wonder as he schooled so many of us, that his ability to capture the flavor of steam in words perhaps resulted in a ground swell of these now fairly common efforts in preservation. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteDavid Morgan spent some of his formative years in Louisville, and I believe was a graduate of Louisville's Male High School. That probably explains his interest in southern railroading. Like Mr. Morgan, I grew up in Kentucky, and my non-traction railroading interest still resides in that region.
ReplyDeleteI like how the NC even put a capped smoke stack on their most modern power. I'm not sure the NC even had USRA power, but this practice continued right until the end.
Evidently, the NC's parent, the L&N considered purchasing these locomotives in the early 1950s. Discussions got as far as sending mechanical forces to the West Nashville shops to examine the locomotives. In the end, the L&N chose diesels, and the rest is history...
It's really amazing to me how much learning takes play while reading this blog. It's as educational as it is entertaining. Thanks to the webmasters.
ReplyDeleteRandy,
ReplyDeleteI used to go visit family in Nashville, Centennial Park is quite a place. The 576 is the first large steam locomotive I ever visited, played on. i am glad to see that it has been given a cover! They have turned down a couple of attempts to revive the locomotive for operation, so it is good for it to be under a cover!
Ted Miles
You're right, Centennial Park is unique. Want to see my pictures of the Parthenon???
ReplyDeleteOne of the more ironic points is that I went to undergrad at Western Kentucky University, which is only 65 miles up the road in Bowling Green. The entire 4 years I was in undergrad, I never came to see the locomotive. Only now, 8 years later do I finally get to see it.
ReplyDelete